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Television
"Caitlin's Way"
Nickelodeon (8 p.m. ET/PT Sundays)
When it comes to television, parents and teens are like oil and water—they just don't mix. So when a television series satisfies both the entertainment cravings of young teens and parents' hunger for clean, quality programming, it's worth talking about.

Nickelodeon's newest series "Caitlin's Way" is far edgier than any existing series on this all-kid network, and that's a good thing. The series features Caitlin, a tough urban teen whose insides don't match her outsides. Although her reckless actions and appearance are harsh, the viewer can feel Caitlin's heart crying out for help and love.

In and out of foster homes since her mother's death, Caitlin finds she has two choices: juvenile hall or move to Montana to live with long-lost relatives. So she heads to Montana and a life like nothing she's ever known.

"Caitlin's Way" is a story of transformation. Caitlin comes with a hard shell that includes green hair, black leather and an attitude. The city where she roams is crowded and loud—a good place to be alone. The move to Montana is a deliberate analogy of new beginnings that include beauty, nature, love, family and commitment. As she sheds her protective layers and reveals her true inner spirit, Caitlin will learn, through her new family, how to trust and love again. This story of redemption, second chances and the impact love can have on our deepest hurts will touch young teens and parents alike.

—Jennifer Mangan
Television critic and mother of four

Video
Galaxy Quest
Dream Works
Rated PG
If you've got boys, you know how hard it can be to find movies they'll actually enjoy. That's one of the many reasons I recommend Galaxy Quest. This science fiction comedy stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman and an assortment of others as has-been actors from a long-gone Star Trek-type television series. Since the show's cancellation, they spend their days in costume and character making appearances at discount store openings and fan club conventions.

This premise takes a hilarious turn when the Thermians, aliens who have beamed into the TV episodes and preserved them as "historical documents," call on their heroes to lead them in a desperate war against the ruthless galactic leader Sarris. By studying the series meticulously, the Thermians have replicated the starship and everything necessary to see the crew through to victory.

Unfortunately, without a script, the crew is clueless. Moreover, their clashing egos prevent them from doing anything as a team. This leads to some laugh-out-loud moments as the unworthy heroes try desperately to escape and/or live up to their reputations, while the loveably innocent Thermians honor their champions no matter how innept they appear to be.

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